French Canadian Pea Soup Recipe

French Canadian pea soup is a family classic. It’s a good way of using leftover ham (and ham bone) after those big holiday meals.

My family, on both my mom and dad’s side, has migrated from France and set roots in Quebec back in the early 1700’s. In the early 1900’s, my Great-grandparents bought farmland in Northern Ontario, bringing with them the rich culture of the French Canadians.

Passed down from one generation to another are some of the great classic recipes of the French Canadian Cuisine; tourtiere (meat pie), sucre a la creme (similar to a hard caramel), ragout de pattes de cochons (my favorite pork dish), and finally pea soup, made famous by the soup brand “Habitant”.

The funny thing about these recipes that have been passed down is that they are not written. There is no magic spell book. They are in the minds and hearts of my mom, aunts, cousins and sisters. Everyone cooks them a little differently. In order to learn how to make them, you actually have to spend time with these women and see how it’s done.

I remember one time trying to learn how to make bread with my Grandmother. She never bought store-bought bread. Once a week, usually Thursdays, she’d make a dozen or so loaves (enough to share). She didn’t use measuring cups, so recording her recipe was impossible. For example, she would put “a glass” of warm water to mix the yeast. She always used the same glass so she knew exactly what worked. I remember asking how much flour to add, but for her, it went by feel. She knew she had just enough when the dough felt just right (sigh!)

I’m not close to being the great cook my mom is, or my grandmothers were. However, I want to capture these great classics so that I can pass them down myself one day. I will record these French Canadian Classic Recipes (my interpretations of them at least) and share them on my blog for all of you.

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About Lucie

My name is Lucie. I am a busy mom who lives in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. I balance a full-time job, two small kids (a five-year-old son a brand new baby boy), life with my husband and time to pursue my interests ( staying fit, art, photography, and blogging).
Contact me at lucie@runmommyrun.ca Read More…

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